Prologue: Startling Meetings - How They Met
"Are you a first year?"
"…Y-yes." A slightly startled voice replied after a pause.
"Wonderful!" the first voice exclaimed, happily. "You don't mind if I join you, then?"
Surprised blue eyes followed the girl in as she sat down her bags, carrier, and then herself. When the girl was settled with her things she focused on the slightly bewildered boy in front of her.
"So, what house do you want to be in," she asked without even stating her name first. The boy was still getting over the sudden appearance of the cheery girl so he answered automatically, "Slytherin, most likely."
"Ooh! You're a bold one, eh!" she giggled at him. A loud meow interrupted her laughter and she rolled her dark, brown eyes before turning to it. "Oh, hush, you spoiled feline. Mommy told you that until you know how to behave yourself properly in moving vehicles, you're gonna have to stay in the carrier. Are you that well-behaved so soon?"
An answering meow, almost indignant, was her pet's reply and the mysterious girl's response was another roll of her also cat-like orbs. She opened the latch on the carrier to let the creature out, and grabbed it quickly before it could attempt to run. When the black and white cat was in the girl's arms she scolded him.
"Now, you do like you're told! Lay down somewhere and be quiet; ain't no one hurtin' you!" She sat the cat down beside her and it did as she said. Before she could completely turn around and probably ask the boy another question, he burst out with one of his own.
"Are you a pure-blood?" he asked, almost accusingly. The girl's eyes, serious for the first time since her almost magic-like appearance, pierced his.
"Does it really matter?" she responded. She didn't give him time to say anything, her question was rhetorical, and continued on.
"Yes, I'm pure-blood. Though I don't see the significance since everyone on this train has magical blood running through their veins. I mean, really. The only difference between me and a half-blood is the fact that both of my parents, and their parents were wizards. And the difference with one with no-wizard parents, or "mudbloods" as they're often rudely referred to as, is that the magic in their blood comes from a maybe long-ago ancestor who's magical talents weren't always passed on into the next generation, or the ones following. If people want to use these labels so loosely, then they should look up and think about the full heredity, genetics, genealogy and the like that they base it on."
As she had been talking her eyes had been on the scenes passing by in the window, but she now looked back at the bleach-blond boy in front of her, who was staring at her in another state of shock. Her faces turned down in a small frown and she spoke again.
"Oh dear..I think I ranted a bit too much just then…." Her mouth turned up and the corners seconds later and she shrugged. "Oh well. Can't be helped. You're that Malfoy boy, aren't you?" she asked suddenly. He blinked at her twice and nodded carefully.
"Yeah, I'm Scorpius." He answered cautiously. He was even more confused at her smile and only stared at her outstretched hand. "Sitara Calandra. As you can tell, I'm most likely gonna be a Ravenclaw."
The sleeping bundle of fur next to her yawned and she smiled a little softer at the sight. And that's my pet, Whiskers."
He eventually reached out and shook her hand to seal the deal of introductions.
And so, it was here in this compartment on the Hogwarts Express that young Scorpius made the acquaintance of the rather eccentric witch, Sitara.
Part 1: A New Life at Hogwarts